Prime suspect in murder found dead in England

The prime suspect in the case of a murdered woman found in a travel bag took his own life in a wooded area in Kent.

English police informed gardaí the suspect in the murder of Malawian student Rudo Mawere had taken his own life and ruled out foul play.

The body of Jasper Taruvinga was found at Crutches Lane, Higham, just after 9am.

Mr Taruvinga was the boyfriend of Ms Mawere, 26, whose body was found in a holdall dumped on a footpath at St David’s Terrace in Dublin 7 on Sunday morning.

A flat on nearby Aughrim St where Mr Taruvinga was living was sealed off on Monday, when the suspect fled the country.

Gardaí investigating the death of Ms Mawere had been looking to speak to the 36-year-old, who is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland and taken a ferry to England.

It is understood the man, said to be from Zimbabwe, had lived in Kent. It is thought his brother is living there and that Mr Taruvinga called him to say he intended to take his own life.

One theory gardaí had been examining was that Ms Mawere, who had been seeing Mr Taruvinga in recent months, had owed him money and that on paying back €50 last Saturday, a row had developed.

When her body was found on Sunday, a plastic bag was covering her head, with asphyxiation later ruled as the cause of death.

Ms Mawere had lived in Ireland for just under two years. Mr Taruvinga had a criminal record.

Cousins of Ms Mawere in Dublin are understood to be coordinating with gardaí regarding the release of her body and possible travel arrangements for it to be repatriated back to Malawi.

Police confirmed the body of a man had been found by a dog walker yesterday in a wooded area in north Kent.